I did that within the past year. I would think if I were having hardware problems, I would be having sound problems in other areas. I’m still getting system sounds, I had no sound problems whatsoever until I installed Avast. I can try reseating the card.
It’s just an experiment… but try simply to move avast! to the back. Specifically, the ACS95 thing is audio related - so make sure it’s started before avast!, and let us know if it helps.
I understand that it doesn’t happen every time… it’s quite normal. Normally, the startup programs are started “all together”, in a certain sense - and it’s just a matter of coincidence which one will be started (or rather, finished starting) first and which one will follow; it’s a lottery.